The break-out performance was a long time coming for Wright, who was one of the most highly-recruited defensive linemen in the country out of Carver High in nearby Columbus, Ga., in 2011. He entered the season with no more than one sack in each of his first two seasons, but something clicked after the Tigers' bye week.

"I guess you can say that I've been waiting, the fans have been waiting," he said. "It’s just one of those things. I’m very happy it finally clicked if you want to see."

Wright helped lead a hungry group on the defensive front, which had been criticized for its lack of pressure on opposing quarterbacks in recent weeks. Defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson publicly -- at least on radio -- was looking for ways to provide adequate pressure elsewhere on the field, whether it was the linebacker or defensive backs.

Johnson didn't have to draw up those plans against the Rebels and there were zero questioning the defensive line's tenacious pursuit after the game.

"We’ve had five games so far and there is no doubt this has been our best game," Wright said. "It has been the least angry (defensive line) coach (Rodney) Garner has been on the bench."

Auburn recorded six sacks, the highest total since the Tigers had a school-record 11 against Alabama in 2005. The two biggest stops occurred on the final possession.

Freshman defensive end Carl Lawson capped the win with a sack of Bo Wallace on fourth down. One play before that Wright muscled his way through the line on a stunt -- "It opened up perfectly through the middle," Wright said. -- and placed two open hands on Wallace's chest. He quickly shoved him to the ground rather than leaning in (he didn't want to risk a targeting call) to set the stage for Lawson's emphatic hit moments later.